Kenya to Host Virtual Award Ceremony to Honour Healthcare Providers

Nairobi, 5 April 2021: Selected hospitals, institutions, counties, and individuals from across the country will be recognised for their outstanding performance, contributions, and achievement in improving the quality of healthcare through the second edition of the Quality Healthcare Kenyan Awards (QHKA).

The first of its kind in Kenya, QHKA seeks to award and honour excellence and innovation in the health sector for providing quality patient-centred care. Awards recipients will be recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Kenyan health sector during a virtual awards ceremony to be held on 7 April 2021.

“Providing a safe, efficient and quality health care services to all people are major prerequisite to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). There is an urgent need to enhance Human Resources for Health at all levels of health facilities for the delivery of quality health services,” said Dr Meshack Ndirangu, Country Director, Amref Health Africa in Kenya.

QHKA is a brainchild of Zawadi Brand Solutions Limited (ZBS Ltd), which has been working in partnership with Amref Health Africa in Kenya to acknowledge exceptional performance and highlight impact of these contributions on the Kenyan health sector.

The QHKA Co-founder Ms Grace Ndegwa commented: “The COVID-19 pandemic has made it evident that the health system needs to be strengthened in order to provide the highest attainable standards of healthcare for all citizens.”

The initiative takes a health systems strengthening approach to improve standards of health service delivery among health professionals by recognising outstanding performance, fostering innovation and the use of information technology and sharing of best practices. The initiative also unites the public and private sectors towards a common by creating a platform for collaboration. The awards present an opportunity for citizens to make their voices heard, by demanding, that which is their right – the highest attainable standards of health care for all.

The QHKA was made possible through the support of Ministry of Health, Kenya Healthcare Federation and sponsors; Smile Train Africa, United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), SafeCare, Safaricom and Dymind

The 2021 Quality Awards for Excellence in Healthcare Quality will be awarded in the following categories:

1. Award of Excellence in Response to COVID-19

2. Award of Excellence in Improving Access to Primary Care services.

3. Award of Excellence in Advancing Maternal and Child Health

4. Health Facility Innovation Project of the Year

5. Student Innovation Project of the Year

6. Lifetime Achievement Award

7. Use of Information Technology to improve Patient Care

8. Best Use of Social Media in Healthcare

9. Award of Excellence in Improving Access to Essential Medicines and Health Products

10. Healthcare Financing Innovation Award

11. Health Leadership Award

12. County with the best Managed Healthcare

People’s Choice Category

13. Private Hospital of Choice

14. Public Hospital of Choice

15. Faith Based/Mission Hospital of Choice

The virtual award ceremony will be streamed via;

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/QHKAwardsYouTube:https://www

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe8eUgiPSIUFOTSKUXPgy1A

Notes to Editors

Quality Healthcare Kenyan Awards (QHKA) QHKA an initiative of ZBS Ltd was conceptualized in 2017 by a Health Systems Manager and a General Practitioner. ZBS Ltd is a healthcare consultancy company dedicated to advancing health in the region for better health outcomes through highly innovative and responsive initiatives that improve the functions of the health system. These interventions are geared towards stewardship, human and physical resources, service delivery, and also health financing for more effective and inclusive health systems. The Awards seek to showcase the impact of the positive contributions on the Kenyan health sector for scalability and sustainability. Health services require quality as a foundation. For this reason, QHKA will honour excellence and innovation in the health sector with a goal of quality patient-centered care.

Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa, headquartered in Kenya, is the largest Africa based international non-governmental organisation (NGO) currently running programs in over 35 countries in Africa with lessons learnt over 60 years of engagement with governments, communities and partners to increase sustainable health access in Africa. Amref Health Africa also incorporates programme development, fundraising, partnership, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and has offices in Europe and North America as well as subsidiaries; Amref Flying Doctors, Amref Enterprises and the Amref International University.

For more information contact:

Maureen Cherongis

Media and External Relations Officer

Amref Health Africa Maureen.Cherongis@amref.org, +254 721178827

Rosemary Irungu

Project Coordinator

Quality Healthcare Kenyan Awards rosemary@qualityhealthcareawards.com, +254 731060164